1978 bronco
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
1978 bronco
Hello,i'm a little confuse here. i want to buy a 1978 bronco. The seller said the engine is a 351w with a manual 4 speed with a bull low. The engine have to be change.
I have a new rebuild 400 and i know is not the same transmission as the 351w.
Did ford made a 4speed bull low manual for the 351w ? if yes can i change the bellhousing to fit on the 400?
I know the 78-79 bronco have 351m or 400 original.
Is that possible the seller don't make the diff between 351w and 351m or they realy make a 4 speed bull low for the 351w?
also did the transfer case from the 351w trans will fit on the 400 trany?
here the pic of the bronco Ford bronco 1978 - New Brunswick Cars For Sale - Kijiji New Brunswick Canada.
I have a new rebuild 400 and i know is not the same transmission as the 351w.
Did ford made a 4speed bull low manual for the 351w ? if yes can i change the bellhousing to fit on the 400?
I know the 78-79 bronco have 351m or 400 original.
Is that possible the seller don't make the diff between 351w and 351m or they realy make a 4 speed bull low for the 351w?
also did the transfer case from the 351w trans will fit on the 400 trany?
here the pic of the bronco Ford bronco 1978 - New Brunswick Cars For Sale - Kijiji New Brunswick Canada.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,182
Likes: 12
From: Gateway to the West
The NP435 was available OEM behind both 351 mills (in different model years). Ford employed the 435 from 1966 through the 1992 model year in various models. So it is possible the bell-housing was swapped. With a 6.68:1 first gear, the New Process unit does well in the low-end dept. (Reverse is even crazier @ 8.26:1) The 435 has no integral bell-housing so the swap is just a matter of getting your hands on a bellhousing for your 400.
If the engine has been swapped to a 351W in a '78, I pity the poor thing trying to lug around the heaviest Bronco ever built.
If the engine has been swapped to a 351W in a '78, I pity the poor thing trying to lug around the heaviest Bronco ever built.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
I'm happy to hear that! can i still used the same clutch?
if so i gona order a new one if i buy and do the swap.
The 400 have 9:5 to 1 comp, roller rocker, ex-energie cam...
349 hp and 472 tq
Need tq to turn those 44" tires
Thanks for responding.
if so i gona order a new one if i buy and do the swap.
The 400 have 9:5 to 1 comp, roller rocker, ex-energie cam...
349 hp and 472 tq
Need tq to turn those 44" tires
Thanks for responding.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 225
Likes: 2
From: Berryville AR
If it is a W the clutch should be different. If it's a 351 M it should have an 11" clutch, the 400 should have a 12" clutch, the original flywheels are drilled for different size clutches. I have read that the flywheels are inter-changeable between 351M & 400 so either clutch could be there. Only way I know of for sure to tell between 351M & 400 is check the casting numbers on the crankshafts or measure the stroke through a spark plug hole. You can tell the W from the M motors by looking at the valve covers, if you have a 400 you know what they look like.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
Ok. I didn't know about the difference for the clutch, good to know. The 351m, 351c and the 400 have 8 bolts on the valve cover. The 289, 302, 351w have 6 bolts. The 429 and 460 have 7. The 351m and 400 are very difficult to identify, they are identical from the outside, The only difference is the crank and the pistons, they even share the same connecting rods! 3.5 inch stroke and 4 inch.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 784
From: Simi Valley, CA
351W not available in F150/350 & Bronco until 1981, not available in any year F100.
1978/79 Bronco: The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code: H = 351M 2V / S = 400 2V / Both have 8 valve cover bolts per side.
Both the New Process 435 (NP435) & Warner T-18 4 speeds were introduced in F100/350's in 1965.
1978/79 Bronco: The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code: H = 351M 2V / S = 400 2V / Both have 8 valve cover bolts per side.
Both the New Process 435 (NP435) & Warner T-18 4 speeds were introduced in F100/350's in 1965.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
If It's a 351w like the seller said and i change it for the 400 i have to find a bell and a clutch, pressur plate release bearing. What about the fork that engage the clutch? Same thing?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: South central, Minnesota
You'll want the fork that matches the 400 bell. If it's a 351W you have no idea what year the engine or bell housing is. So your best bet is to find a 400 bell housing with clutch fork, flywheel & block spacer plate all off the same engine. That way you know they will all match and work with each other.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
I gona have to take a look by my self and take some pics of everything when i gona be home. I'm working 3000 miles from home right now every two weeks i'm home for 1 week. I ask the seller this morning to count the bolts on the valve cover for me but no anser yet.
I hope Its a 351m or even better a 400.
I hope Its a 351m or even better a 400.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,189
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From: SE Georgia
I gona have to take a look by my self and take some pics of everything when i gona be home. I'm working 3000 miles from home right now every two weeks i'm home for 1 week. I ask the seller this morning to count the bolts on the valve cover for me but no anser yet.
I hope Its a 351m or even better a 400.
I hope Its a 351m or even better a 400.
OR even better...a 460 swapped in.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
the thing is i rebuilt that 400 for a project couple year ago and change my mind. now i have a new 400 sitting on the engine stand that need a body. i just mean even better a 400 so i could use the same fork, bell, clutch...
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 883
Likes: 7
From: New-brunswick,Canada
here a pic of my 408 couple here ago. Now it's only missing a distributor.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n..._4288127_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n..._4288127_n.jpg
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,908
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From: Algona, Washington
That's a nice looking engine. For the lazy people: 
If I were you, and I bought this truck, I would look for a T-18 4 speed tranny and just drop the stuff in there now. They shouldn't be too hard to find unless you live outside of the US, then it might be difficult. Since it already has a 4 speed a T-18 should just bolt right up. It has the Granny low first and everything.
That's just me though. The T-18 will bolt to both a 460 and a 351M/400 I think using the same bellhousing. You seem like you know your stuff so I will only back up up and say that you can only tell the difference between a 400 and a 351M by the internals. Everything outside, including the flywheel would be interchangeable unless someone put some sort of modified one ment for racing or whatever.
If I were you, and I bought this truck, I would look for a T-18 4 speed tranny and just drop the stuff in there now. They shouldn't be too hard to find unless you live outside of the US, then it might be difficult. Since it already has a 4 speed a T-18 should just bolt right up. It has the Granny low first and everything.
That's just me though. The T-18 will bolt to both a 460 and a 351M/400 I think using the same bellhousing. You seem like you know your stuff so I will only back up up and say that you can only tell the difference between a 400 and a 351M by the internals. Everything outside, including the flywheel would be interchangeable unless someone put some sort of modified one ment for racing or whatever.